Trouble at Stutzung part II

by Antonio

My new friends I see are not afraid to fight. And they fight good when they have to.

It is good that we chase away the Moerderbande from the village we stay in. They are bastards who starve and kill their own people for money. But now what can we do? The leader, a big man in armour and pig-face helmet get away and run back to Stutzung. He will come back and many will suffer for his revenge. We must stay and help the villagers. We know the Moerderbande will have many men this time and will be back in two days. We must have plan.

The Montaignian Dandelion suggest we get keg of gunpowder to use – but how to use it? After we talk to villagers we think best place for ambush is on road to village. So we go and look for place where we can fight few against many. We look up and down road. There is hills on one side and river on other. On one hill outside village we find campsite where many men have camped. Here the Moerderbande must make camp every time before running into village in the early morning. In the middle there is circle of stone where big campfire is built.

Franz the Eisen warrior, then say we put gunpowder keg in the ground under campfire. Probably the Moerderbande come at night, camp here again, and attack in morning. We bury keg, cover with stones, and when they light fire – BOOOOOM!!! If we lucky many will be killed or hurt. Very, very smart idea.

Dandelion and Franz walk to river to see if can buy gunpowder from boat going by. They call to boat with many Montaigne soldiers and ask for gunpowder to buy. One soldier remember them from when soldiers are saved in Urssa by my friends. This is very good, they are happy to give gunpowder to my friends.

When they are getting gunpowder I am helping other friends Borst and Eduardo to dig hole. I know a little bit about the gunpowder so when they bring keg I very careful put keg in hole and bury it. Then Borst, who is also hunter, have much experience in making traps. He make sure everything is looking right and no one can see our bomb.

So now we see where we are going to be when Moerderbande come back. We find good spot to wait where there is log and Borst see where horses is usually put. He will hide there then when bomb explode he will untie horses and make more confusion. Me and Dandelion and Eduarde will have muskets ready to shoot. Good plan. Now we wait. We know they are not coming yet but think best to wait near camp. We do not want poor bastard making fire in camp and blowing themself up.

We make our camp for the night. When we sit someone ask me what happened with my family and where I am from. So now I know these are good men and tell them the story of Antonio Mondavi.

On the next day we fix camp so cannot see we are there. Dandelion tell his servant to wait in town then we hide in forrest and wait. We wait all day then after dark we hear horses and many men come up road. We can see many shadows but is no moon so is hard to know how many men. But we see they are going to make fire in the circle. I am getting very excited and must make myself sit very still with my muskets. Borst sneak around to horses. Soon they have big fire and see maybe thirty maybe more men. I see big boss man walking in camp. Night is very cold so many men get very close to fire. Good, good, I think. Then when I think maybe not going to work, gunpowder explode beautiful. We run to log and I see many men running. There are dead men on ground and many men hurt. But boss man is very good, make them run to get their weapons. I shoot first gun and miss. I see men run to me with swords and shoot second gun and kill one man. Then I have three men to fight me, one of them a big bastard. I drop gun but I cannot get out sword quick enough. I am hit bad before I draw sword and I then I see the big bastard come at me. He get me just when I get sword and I get him at same time. I see him fall dead then everything is dark.

After I am told what happened. Dandelion and Eduardo shoot their muskets and kill some men then everybody fight. Dandelion not very good fighter but very brave, he stand and fight but is cut bad and fall. Franz have 6 maybe 7 (he say 20, but I don’t think so) men including pig-face leader fight him. Eduardo is cutting down men like chopping sheep. And far away, after untying horses, brave Borst is fighting many men by himself.

Soon there are many men lying dead. Franz is hurt bad but is still fighting. Eduardo finishes all the men near him and will help Franz but then the yellow cowards all try to run away. Pig-face run like scared rabbit. He and his men run straight to Borst on other side of hill. Borst get one more man. Eduardo scream with anger and run up to top of hill, pulling his pistols out. He fire two guns at pig-face who is running like crazy and fungullo gets him bad. But bastard still keep running.

Anyway, my friends let him go so they can help the wounded back to the village. No one can help because we are hurt very bad. So they get wagon and travel to Stutzung to see mayor, Dandelion and me lying in back. If we help to make mayor’s son free, he maybe help us with good doctor. When we get to city pretend Dandelion and me are merchants who are drunk Borst say guard at gates very suspicious at first, but Borst is very friendly and charming and guard let us through.

When we come into town someone see girl looking at us. She look like she know we are not what we say. Eduardo jump down and run after her. He catch her and try to ask her questions. Eduardo say girl fall in love with him straight away, she even pull out knife to cut his pants off with. Strange man Eduardo. One of best fighters I ever see, but not very bright. He think all women want to have his babies.

Anyway he did find out where mayor’s house and he think this girl hate Moerderbande too. He also get name of place we can leave message for her. Franz say he told Eduardo about Jenny who give Moderbande mayor’s son Hans Jost, and how she is now very unhappy about it. Eduardo say he does not know if this girl is the same girl. Maybe this one working for Moderbande too. But I think Franz is right, we are to need much help and some risks is to be taken. We must find this girl again and see if she is the same one.

We go to the mayor house after and Franz and Borst go inside. They tell the mayor we are here to help but he does not think we can do anything. He believes violence will just make more violence. Franz show him that maybe if we show someone can stand up to Moerderbande people everywhere will join in.

The mayor sends for his own surgeon and he fix up Dandelion, Franz and me. After we sleep some more we wake up much better. I am still not 100%, but now I can walk.

What next? I think maybe we must find this girl again and I hope she does not think we are all like Eduardo!

Antonio Mondavi.